A gentle breeze sends a whispering shiver through the weeping needles of the she-oak trees, muffling the sound of our footsteps.
As our ears adapt to the ensuing silence, we hear the gentle cracking of she-oak cones and the soft fall of discarded ‘chewings’ – also called ‘orts’ – that alert us to the presence of glossy black cockatoo. How fortunate we are!
Of the marvellous black cockatoo with whom we share the Northern Rivers environment year-round, the glossy (Calyptorhinchus lathami lathami) is the quietest and most discreet.
Unlike their red-tailed and yellow-tailed black cockatoo relatives, or the cheeky, raucous sulphur-crested, glossies go about their business in a more subtle and cryptic manner.
While the uninitiated would be readily forgiven for mistaking a red- or yellow-tailed for a glossy, there are a few helpful clues. Unlike some other cockatoo, their calls aren’t overly loud or harsh. It might be a ‘chur-ree’ or ‘cher-reek sound repeated several times, often while they’re foraging or communicating with their mates.
Red-tailed or yellow-tailed?
Training binoculars on the pair we’ve found, it’s clear that the glossies are of smaller stature than the red-tailed and yellow-tailed black cockatoo. As we watch, the adult male clasps a thin casuarina branch with one claw and a casuarina cone in the other, which he raises to his bulbous bill.
The comparative size and shape of the bill is another confirming clue, being well adapted for prizing seeds from cones. Incredibly, his balancing act is achieved while the branch sways to the rhythm of the sea breeze.
A third clue that confirms the bird’s identity – and gender – is the colouring. glossy black cockatoo are sexually dimorphic.
This biological term means that males and females of the same species can be differentiated by their appearance. In glossy blacks, these differences are quite distinct: Adult males have all-black plumage, with a distinctive red patch on their tail feathers, which makes them easily identifiable.
Adult females have a combination of black and dark brown plumage, often exhibiting yellow spots on their heads and necks, while juvenile birds can exhibit orange or yellow spots.
Adult tail feathers feature red panels with thin black bars, the red areas sometimes having yellow margins.
Sexual dimorphism helps birdwatchers and researchers
The bird we’ve spotted is clearly a male. But wait. Movement in the branches a little further away reveals a second bird – a female, whose gender is also easily confirmed, thanks to sexual dimorphism which helps birdwatchers and researchers alike determine the sex of these magnificent birds.
In the whole of Byron Shire, only one active glossy nest site has been identified since monitoring started in earnest in 2022. Thankfully, glossies have been sighted, including the ones we’ve observed, in four different feed trees areas.
A privilege to see them in Byron Shire
It’s such a privilege to see these birds here in Byron Shire, foraging in their natural habitat. Absolutely captivated, we stay put until the sun begins to sink, when, as if on cue, the birds exchange a plaintive cry and take off. Our final treat is the sight of their short but resplendent tail feathers fully spread, undersides glowing in shades of red and yellow.
Thankfully, there are wonderful organisations with projects afoot to increase glossy numbers in our area. Here’s what you too, dear reader, can do to help our glossy black cockatoo if you feel so inclined – Join Byron Bird Buddies and take part in surveys: byronbirdbuddies.com.au.
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